Russia

This overland journey roves the countryside and urban centers of four distinct nations: the three independent Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – and Kaliningrad, an exclave of Russia. For a limited time, save $250 per person on the April 22-May 4, 2019 departure of this tour. (more details) Read More

Discover the abundant art, visionary architecture, and inspired culture of Russia’s historic Golden Ring, an elliptical string of medieval towns that once formed the political and economic core of the powerful Kievan Rus. From Moscow, the country’s political and business capital, circle a series of enchanting towns and villages in the countryside, each celebrated for their ancient kremlins, historic wooden churches, fascinating frescoes, and time-honored handicrafts. Read More

Join MIR on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to the very top of the earth, experiencing life at its most remote and mysterious at the North Pole. Retrace the path of early polar explorers as you cruise aboard the world’s largest icebreaker, keeping a lookout for the astonishing array of wildlife in the Arctic and enjoying fantastic views of an endless, frozen icescape. Read More

Discover the arresting natural beauty and spirited cultures of the North Caucasus on this rail journey powered by Soviet-era steam locomotives. Admire mountain vistas on the scenic North Caucasus Railway, making stops in the Chechen capital of Grozny, recently rebuilt after years of conflict, and lively Vladikavkaz. Tour the famed mineral spa resorts of Mineralnye Vody, Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk, and enjoy a rare opportunity to ride one of Russia’s few remaining narrow-gauge railways through beautiful Gaumsky Canyon. Read More

Explore the remote corners of Russia, including the wild Kamchatka Peninsula, uneasily perched on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and Yakutia, a challenging northern frontier known for mammoths and diamonds. Meet the indigenous peoples of these far-flung locales, and admire two natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites as you contrast the Kingdom of Permafrost in Yakutsk with the steaming Valley of the Geysers in Kamchatka. Read More

Join MIR on a one-of-a-kind adventure as we return to the fascinating and complex North Caucasus region, today experiencing the very beginnings of a revitalization of tourism. Discover the ravishing mountain landscapes, medley of cultures and overflowing hospitality of North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan, where ancient mountain tribes have guarded their way of life for thousands of years. Read More

The seldom-traveled Baikal-Amur Magistral (BAM for short) rolls through some of the most remote, roadless taiga in the country, through dramatic mountains and over miles of tundra. The train stops at crumbling little towns thrown together in the 1970s for railroad workers, where the few who remain stay for the beauty of the Siberian outback. Then head south to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to celebrate the “three skills of man” – archery, horse racing and wrestling – at the country’s favorite festival, Naadam. Read More

Located far above the Arctic Circle, some 470 miles away from the Eurasian mainland, the 191 islands that make up Franz Josef Land are some of the most remote and under-explored locales on earth. Discovered only 150 years ago, this volcanic, glaciated archipelago was once a major stopping point for famous polar explorers making the dangerous (and often deadly) passage to the North Pole.
Enjoy fantastic views of rugged icebergs and glacier-capped peaks rising majestically from the icy waters as you cruise north through the Barents Sea. Discover the vast array of wildlife that this area plays host to, from nesting auks to colonies of walrus. Read More

Embark on a Grand Tour of Russia, traveling from end to end of the largest country on earth along its waterways and railways. Begin in St. Petersburg, where Peter the Great ordered laborers to dig miles of canals to drain the wetlands along the Gulf of Finland, then board an elegant modern riverboat to follow a leisurely route to Moscow. Discover the classic sites of the capital, then board the luxury Golden Eagle private train on its way east through Siberia to the Pacific Rim city of Vladivostok, counting seven UNESCO World Heritage masterpieces across the miles. Read More

Join a band of adventurous travelers during the “White Nights” of summer on a luxury rail journey celebrating the Midnight Sun. Beginning in magnificent Moscow, take advantage of the long, sun-filled days as the train heads north beyond the Arctic Circle. The journey culminates in sumptuous St. Petersburg, where fashionable boulevards and serene canals glisten in the oblique rays of the Midnight Sun. Read More

Traveler Reviews

Covering the Central Asian portion of the 21-day Silk Route by Private Train between Moscow and Almaty, this journey provides the perfect vantage point from which to appreciate the dramatic contrasts of this region, stretching from European Russia to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and visiting five UNESCO sites along the way. You can make the epic journey aboard the exclusive Golden Eagle private train, which will carry you in style and comfort where camels used to trudge.A westbound Almaty to Moscow departure is also available.